Futurama builds "The Six Million Dollar Mon"

In the latest installment of Comedy Central's Futurama, "The Six Million Dollar Mon," Hermes (Phil LaMarr) is disgraced after being rated the least valuable employee at Planet Express and fired, replaced by a machine. It doesn't matter that he is the one who does the firing to himself, it still hurts. Adding insult to injury, Hermes is almost mugged by crazy Roberto (David Herman). To cope with these events, Hermes begins getting robot implants, until there is nothing human left about him.

"The Six Million Dollar Mon" is, overall, a very good episode. It really focuses on the characters of Hermes and Zoidberg (Billy West), exploring their relationship, and their personalities. Futurama is at its strongest when it takes the time to work with what it already has, which are fully developed, complex characters. Adventures are nice, but character exploration is what makes good television great.

The episode uses these individuals and their quirks to be funny. When Zoidberg thinks Hermes's meanness towards him is Hermes's way of showing affection, it's sweet. When we learn that Hermes really does hate Zoidberg, it informs on the way their characters interact, and is tragically amusing. Zoidberg building the Hermes puppet continues this trend, simultaneous making us laugh at the visual gag, but also feel sorry for poor, pathetic Zoidberg, knowing this is his way of coping with not truly having any friends. Many people can relate to this.

Add to that, Professor Farnsworth (also West) acting as a mad scientist, and Scruffy (also Herman) refusing to fix anything that is not a boiler or a toilet, and there are some truly classic moments. Best of all is Bender (John DiMaggio) being fascinated with a machine that bends, and appearing jealous of Hermes's shiny metal ass, a trademark catchphrase of Bender's.

There are a couple of smart plot twists in "The Six Million Dollar Mon." Once Roberto is executed, and then Mecha Hermes wants a robot brain, it's fairly predictable what is going to happen. Still, it seems clever, even if it's a trope used in other fiction, because of the sincerity it is played with. Ditto for Zoidberg rebuilding Hermes piece by piece. One can see where the writers are going, but it's still fun to be taken along for the ride. It's the seamless way it all ties together that kicks the story a notch above the norm.

Plus, Futurama really delivers the references in this episode. From the title, a play on the television show of almost the same name, Hermes getting a Cylon eye, and seeing Helper's grave in the robot cemetery, "The Six Millon Dollar Mon" has goodies for geeks galore, whether one is a fan of The Venture Brothers or Battlestar Galactica. These are more than just cut scenes, a la Family Guy, but actually add to the value of the plot here.

That being said, it isn't a perfect episode. The sequence where LaBarbara's (Dawnn Lewis) curry drips through a number of different places, finally burning the Robot Devil (Dan Castellaneta), is a throwback to the other animated shows that lack the ingenuity and cleverness of Futurama. Worse, Leela (Katey Sagal) and Amy (Lauren Tom) invite a distracted Fry (West again) to shower with them in a cheap joke that is totally out of character for all involved.

Still, Futurama delivers more consistently than most, and remains a must-watch show, even after the many years of episodes that have come before this one. Catch Futurama Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com.  If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

The Simpsons logs on to "The D'oh-cial Network"

     This week's entry of FOX's The Simpsons is a parody of the film The Social Network entitled "The D'oh-cial Network." Lisa (Yeardley Smith) realizes she has no friends, and so creates an online social site, SpringFace, where she soon has a thousand and is hailed as a hero! But she doesn't plan for the consequences, which finds the entire town glued to electronic devices, shunning all human interaction, and leading to countless traffic accidents. In the end, Lisa tells the judge she will take down her website, and Springfield returns to normal.

     Taken by itself, the plot in "The D'oh-cial Network" runs a little thin. Who exactly hauls Lisa in before the judge? And when she agrees to remove the site, the case is just dropped? Why did she need to tell the entire story of her family visiting a mall at the beginning? None of it really gels together well, so it's a hodgepodge of parts.

     As a move parody, the episode does a little bit better. There are some key things from The Social Network that are directly ripped off, such as at the end when Patty and Selma (Julie Kavner) face off with the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer, reprising his film roles) in a rowing race, which The Simpsons turns into an incestuous make-out session. Some of the courtroom dialogue seems familiar, and the basic structure. Obviously, The Simpsons can't take the plot completely, as it just doesn't condense well into the short, animated format. But taking some themes and references out to play with is enough.

     I guess the confusion here is that The Simpsons have only about twenty-two minutes to condense down a two hour movie, and yet, they start late and end early, making the meat of the episode one of the leanest ever. Did they really out of ideas after fifteen minutes? If so, why even attempt the task?

     The opening of any Simpsons episode has a couch gag, which sometimes go on to be quite extended. The one in "The D'oh-cial Network" is one of those times, where the family runs through the city, and makes it through a number of checkpoints, with Homer (Dan Castellaneta) predictably distracted along the way. The payoff is that they find their couch on David Letterman's (voicing himself) set, and he makes a snide comment to them. Humorous, sure. Not sure it really fit with the episode. Then again, the couch gag often doesn't.

     The end of "The D'oh-cial Network," too, is unexpectedly long. As the credits start to roll, they quickly stop because the episode doesn't have a long enough story time, and a couple minute long filler must be inserted. It's an amusing poem read by Skinner (Harry Shearer) as a failed lesson to get students to not pull pranks. Again, it's pretty darn funny on its own. It just doesn't fit in with the episode at large.

     All said, "The D'oh-cial Network" is not the strongest episode of The Simpsons. It gets some laughs, but lacks a cohesiveness that makes it feel like the series is just phoning it in at this point. My advice? Do the best season ever made next year, with poignant, connected, heartwarming, hilarious stories that get back to the root of the characters, then cancel the show, going out on top. Because this slow fade to death is sometimes painful. And make no mistake about it: The Simpsons will not run for another twenty years on its current path.

     Watch The Simpsons Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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The Simpsons The Fourteenth Season now on Blu-ray

     Now out on Blu-ray is The Fourteenth Season of FOX's The Simpsons. Since it's been a few years since these episodes ran on television, although this Blu-ray is a new release, it's worth noting a number of things about season fourteen. These episodes broadcast from November 2002 through May 2003. Five episodes were actually left over from the previous season. This season won the Outstanding Animated Program Emmy for "Gays of the Condo," as well as a handful of other awards, including one for voice actor Hank Azaria's work in "Moe's Baby Blues" and the show's first Golden Globe nomination for Best Musical or Comedy Series.

     Year fourteen got off to a late start, with "Treehouse of Horror XIII" serving as the season premiere. It is a memorable one, featuring clones of Homer (Dan Castellaneta), the ghost of Billy the Kid taking over defenseless Springfield, and Dr. Hibbert's (Harry Shearer) freaky island. The season continued with a number of great installments. Among them, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," where Homer rubs elbows with rock stars, "Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade," where the siblings end up in the same class, and "Large Marge," wherein Marge (Julie Kavner) gets breast implants. The Simpsons also live in a 1895-esque settlement, Marge takes steroids, Homer finds religion, Ned (Shearer) dates an actress, Krusty (Castellaneta) is elected to Congress, Santa's Little Helper's original owner tries to reclaim him, and a suicidal Moe (Azaria) finds meaning in his life because of Maggie (Nancy Cartwright). In this year, Skinner (Shearer) even proposes to Edna (Marcia Wallace), though we all know that didn't work out!

      There is also controversy surrounding season fourteen, in the argument over what the 300th episode of The Simpsons actually is. "Barting Over" was promoted heavily as that landmark, but actually ended up being the 302nd broadcast. There is a joke in the episode that references this, showing how timely the series can be. But it caused quite a stir among fans and suits alike at the time.

     If you're looking for guest stars, Season Fourteen certainly has them. I could list them all, but it would be an extensive list, and readers' eyes will begin to glaze over, so there seems to be little point. Rest assured, they are present, and in droves.

     Best of all, The Fourteenth Season is packed with extras! There are more bonus features than one would inspect, but a great many of them are actually very good. Audio commentary is provided for all twenty-two episodes, giving the die-hard fans hours of audio content to pour over. Many, many people stop by these commentaries, so there is no change of boredom or monotony. Even better, deleted scenes are included with commentary, too, so it's easy to find out why they were cut, something that isn't often included. They can also be added back into the episode, with a small icon indicating the cut material.

     Included are various featurettes. Of course, one looks at the 300th episode. Another interviews the rock stars from "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." There is an introduction by creator Matt Groenig. The multi-angle animation showcase is fantastic for anyone curious about the animation process, taking fans through the various stages of design. There are also sketches on each disc. Really cool is the booklet that comes with the set, which features a full page of information from each and every episode, and a humorous letter from Groenig.

     Season six and seven's "Treehouse of Horror" episodes are included in this Blu-ray set. As these have not been on Blu-ray before, that's kind of nice, though one does wonder why these particular entries are chosen. Continuing with the Halloween theme, "Foolish Earthlings," "The Halloween Classics," and "In the Beginning" present clips from various scary specials, the latter putting together the openings over the years, though don't add that much to the discussion.

     At last, in season fourteen, The Simpsons joins the world of digital coloring. That is not a slam on The Simpsons; it's not like it was behind the curve. But it's great to see such crystal clear pictures, sharp images, and color deviations, even on an animated series. The show is not in widescreen, nor was it ever at this point. As a basic television show, audio does not benefit substantially from surround side. But the dialogue and music is mixed nicely, and everything sounds as good as one might expect. Certainly no problems.

     Buy The Simpsons The Fourteenth Season on Blu-ray today.

     Watch The Simpsons Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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The Simpsons partners up "The Falcon and the D'Ohman"

     FOX's The Simpsons begins its twenty-third season with "The Falcon and the D'Ohman." Homer (Dan Castellaneta) does his best to befriend and unfriendly new security guard at work named Wayne (Kiefer Sutherland, 24). Wayne soon saves Homer in a bar, and then loses his job while having a flashback to his dark past. Homer takes Wayne into his own home, but Wayne's past continues to haunt him, and Homer ends up getting kidnapped as part of a trap for Wayne. Of course, there is a happy ending.

     Sutherland is not new to The Simpsons, having voiced different characters in 2006 and 2007. He is, however, welcome back on the network for which he starred in a series for so long. As soon as his voice is heard, it brings to mind just how much one misses Jack Bauer, and thanks are owed to The Simpsons for making that happen.

     That being said, the main story is just OK. Homer taking in a former super military guy, who has enemies hunting for him, is only a marginally funny plot. Perhaps after twenty-three years, it's getting harder and harder for the writers to find new scenarios. Among the few gems that pop out in the mediocre episode are Moe (Hank Azaria) having his patrons pick up his pickled eggs and returning them to the jar, and Homer setting Wayne up with a job at the DMV. Perhaps Wayne can become a recurring character, since he is staying in town. But that may not be a wise choice, given his lack of interesting development.

     Marge (Julie Kavner) has the B story, but it's so brief that it can barely be referred to as that. She dreams of being a contestant on Top Chef, which leads to a cameo by Tom Colicchio (voicing himself). This cannot be an uncommon wish among housewives who pride themselves on their cooking. But with so little time given over to the bit, it's hard to say that it's even worth doing.

     In last May's finale, fans were asked to go online and vote on whether Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) and Edna Crabapple (Marcia Wallace) should remain a couple. Happily, participants voted to keep the two together, revealed first in a small manner, then in more overt ways, in "The Falcon and the D'Ohman." As both has suffered enough in their love lives over the past twenty-two years, it brings a smile to see them happy together. Yay for love!

     Watch The Simpsons Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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The Simpsons presents "The Ned-Liest Catch"

     FOX's The Simpsons presents their 22nd season finale, "The Ned-Liest Catch." In it, Edna Krabappel (Marcia Wallace) does the unthinkable - she slaps Bart (Nancy Cartwright)! The teachers' union will not allow her to be fired, so instead, she is forced to report to a holding room every day, with full pay, to await a hearing in fifty-seven years for her actions. Bart feels bad and springs Edna, who falls into the arms of Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer). The two begin dating, but Ned is disturbed when he learns that Edna has slept with nearly every guy in town. Homer (Dan Castellaneta) does his best to salvage the relationship, and as the episode ends, viewers are asked to vote for whether the pair should stay together, promising the answer in next fall's season premiere.

     The idea to have fans vote on whether a couple should stay together is hokey and lazy. It is nearly completely unheard of in network television circles. While normally something original would deserve kudos and applause, in this case it comes across as a cheap gimmick to get people to the show's web page. It is the ultimate disappointment at the end of the finale, worse than the standard cliffhanger because it is known that there is no current plan on how things will resolve. There is also no listing for when voting ends, which is important, because obviously the shows' writers will need some lead time to work on the season premiere, no matter which way the voting goes.

     Also worth complaining about is the way the power of the teachers' union is portrayed. There is no real dingy holding room, of course, and it doesn't take six decades to get a hearing. The union is nowhere near that powerful, nor is the school board that mean. Edna slapping a child should be enough to get her fired, end of story. The governor dissolving the union is a neat resolution, though quite sad, because it rings true in several states at the moment. But then Edna is fired, only to be rehired immediately, as long as she agrees to take some prison guard shifts on the weekends. It's a really bleak outlook at the whole school system, and perhaps a little too painful, regarding current events, to be very amusing.

     Other than that, it's a pretty good episode. Ned needs some love, as does Edna, and while she has sometimes been shown to be a bit of a partier, she seems to enjoy the calm stability that Ned offers. There is some real emotional pain present when Ned speaks of his wife, the only Simpsons recurring character to be killed off and stay dead during the run of the series. It would be nice to have the two of them as a permanent couple, and also welcome that some characters undergo serious change after twenty-two seasons. So, admittedly, I did go and vote for them to stay together, despite my better judgement about the whole stunt.

     Bart also shows remorse, something always welcome. When he doesn't, he just comes across as an unlikeable brat. His willingness to admit he deserves the slap, as well as help make Mrs. Krabappel's suspension more tolerable, is heartwarming and a good twist. Of course, Bart is merely a kid, so he can be forgiven for later complaining about how Edna's dating life affects him, as she begins hanging out next door. Should the relationship continue, this plot offers at least a couple episodes of story.

     The Simpsons has been renewed, and will return to resolve the cliffhanger, pending viewer votes, next fall on FOX.

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Article first published as TV Review: The Simpsons - "The Ned-Liest Catch" on Blogcritics.

The Simpsons has "A Midsummer's Nice Dream"

     It was high time Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, better known as Cheech and Chong, got to guest star as themselves on FOX's The Simpsons. I was stoked to see them. They were smokin'! OK, enough with the pot puns. This episode has enough drug references for a season's worth of episodes. But they weren't just stereotypical chariactures, thank goodness, so it ended up being a fairly funny.

     Apparently Cheech and Chong are from Springfield, go figure. They began life as local broadcasters, until a strange smell wafted in and made them who they are. So, this week, they return to their hometown to do a show. Homer (Dan Castellaneta) takes his family, because, of course, they will certainly be putting on an appropriate performance. But Chong decides he is tired of the classic bits, and wants to do something more daring. With Cheech left on stage by himself, Homer is encouraged by friends and family to step up to the plate, since he knows all of their bits by heart. Cheech is so impressed, he invites Homer to go on tour with him as Cheech and Chunk.

     Cheech and Chong are merely the latest in a long line of famous celebrities willing to bring a bit of themselves into the small town supposedly bursting with connections to funny people. Funnily enough, the stereotypical image of the two of them gels much better with the denizens than the reality. This episode played up the latter, so the fit was a little uneven.

     Homer is a drinking man. As referenced in the episode, beer has always been his thing, not pot. As such, I find it odd that Homer would know and enjoy stoner comedy so dang much. Wouldn't this be a better role for a side character? I understand that the Simpson family is the heart of the show and are usually central to the main story, but I can't help but feeling that Homer was the wrong man for the job. However, since Homer has gotten himself into many situations he probably shouldn't ever have been in over the years, it can be sort of excused, because it has become a common conceit of the show.

     Chong also interviews replacements for his own new act. For no apparent reason, he thinks the unfunniest man is the right one, so he hires Skinner (Harry Shearer) for Teech and Chong. My biggest regret in this episode is that we didn't get nearly as much of Teech and Chong as Cheech and Chunk. I find the principal's antics far more entertaining than Homer's in this case, and wish there was a better balance.

     The B plot involved Marge (Julie Kavner) venturing into the Crazy Cat Lady's (Tress MacNeille) lair and discovering why she is so crazy: she is a hoarder! Once Marge removes all the junk, the cats begin to wonder away, and the woman finally finds her speech after twenty years of appearing on the show. Remarkably, she sounds just like a number of other women in Springfield! Yeah, that last comment is sarcastic. But the temptation of the junk is too much for Marge, who becomes a hoarder herself.

     Setting aside how unrealistic it is that the Simpson household completely fills with junk so quickly, I don't think it is in Marge's nature to ever be a hoarder like this. She is concerned with a neat house, and prides herself on her homemaking skills. As such, I don't see her actually falling into this trap.

     But, I admit, I am overanalyzing. The Simpsons is meant to be enjoyed without question, and have apparently earned the right for that to be the case after more than two decades on television. I personally don't think that is an excuse to rest on their laurels, but I'm not a fraction as successful as Matt Groenig, so who am I to judge?

     It just makes me sad when they don't try just a tad bit harder sometimes. There have been many brilliantly funny episodes of The Simpsons over the years. I feel like when guest stars are stuck into characters that would have worked for any voice actor, they are more successful than when the show is worked around the guest stars. This episode was definitely in the second category, and that may be why I was a little less than satisfied with it, even though I delighted at the concept.

     That being said, my favorite sequence is the A Midsummer Night's Dream reference of Bart (Nancy Cartwright) as Puck at the end, tying everything up neatly. Only incredibly loosely did this episode resemble the Shakespeare work about two couples confused in the woods by fairies, but at least the bit tied in the title.

     The Simpsons airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Article first published as TV Review: The Simpsons - "A Midsummer's Nice Dream" on Blogcritics.

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The Simpsons are my Idol

     Last night on Fox's season finale of The Simpsons, "Judge Me Tender", Moe (voiced by Hank Azaria) became the judge of all things big and small.  This culminated in him joining another Fox hit, American Idol, for one episode.  Is it coincidence that this is the weekend just before the season finale of Idol?  I think not.  Though none of the Idol contestants were involved, at least all four judges and the host provided their own voices.  However, Moe has seemed to get quite a bit of screen time lately, and he's always a good time.

     The major subplot involved Homer (Dan Castellaneta) spending more time at home because Moe's bar was closed.  This drove Marge (Julie Kavner) crazy, as he was constantly getting in her way and screwing things up.  It was a real chance to see Homer try to be a man who likes to stay home and help around the house, and exactly why it's good that he doesn't.

     The Simpsons rarely brilliant anymore, if it ever was.  It's funny, and it beats a whole lot of shows currently airing on television.  It's a nice, comfortable old favorite that you can tune into and enjoy, but don't expect something new or groundbreaking.  The finale fit in that mold perfectly, and as long as the episodes stay status quo, they'll still keep their audience.  Myself included.

Animation Domination certainly decks something

     Sunday marked the end of 2009 episodes of Animation Domination (or, Seth McFarlane & The Simpsons Night) on Fox.  Let's look at the results.

     The Simpsons, the only holdout against giving the entire night to McFarlane's series of practically the same shows, absconded the Christmas theme for an episode about Bart wanting a baby brother.  Homer (Dan Castellaneta), of course, would have none of it, and all of Bart's (Nancy Cartwright) attempts to trick his parents into it failed horribly.  So he went and adopted an orphan.  The episode had some of the best gags in a long time, from the boys dressed as the South Park kids, to the montage of famous brothers (many voiced by the actual celebrities portrayed).  For those who argue that the show has passed its prime and it so longer as good as it once was, I think this episode joins the ranks of recent ones proving them wrong.  Besides, without Simpsons, could we really take another McFarlane clone?

     All kidding aside, McFarlane's latest creation, The Cleveland Show, is actually fairly funny, just like his other shows, although some of the novelty of the original has long worn off.  This episode went all out for the holidays, even adding a new theme song, with a few fun throwbacks to the show it spun off from.  Cleveland does get to deal with reality of a broken family, though, and for the Christmas drama, Cleveland (Mike Henry) had to find his new stepkids' father and get him to come home to restore the yuletide spirit.  This show tries to be edgy, with Cleveland's boss proclaiming "Hide the silverware!" when his dark skinned employee arrived, but ends up being a bit too silly to be offensive.  My only real complaint about this episode was letting neighbor, Arianna (Arianna Huffington), an uber-religious bear, drop character to enjoy letting the reindeer watch her have sex with her husband, Tim (McFarlane).  Continuity, people!

     Family Guy really kind of skipped the holiday, too, but was ok for it.  Peter's (McFarlane) father-in-law, Mr. Pewterschmidt (also McFarlane),  lapses into a coma, Peter gets to take over his multi-billion dollar company.  Like most episode, the main plot isn't what makes the show.  This one was full of great gags.  For instance, while the town's bar is called the Thirst Clam, apparently it's strip club is the Fuzzy Clam.  When Mr. Pewterschmidt collapsed, he said he was having a "heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack, you oughta know by now", reference to legendary Mr. Billy Joel.  The doctor at the hospital, as well as a surprise pop up at the end, was none other than Hugh Laurie playing his popular fox character House, from the television show of the same name.  Jim Parsons also made a guest appearance as his character, Sheldon, from The Big Bang Theory.  Plus, there were some great Scooby-Doo moments.  And let's be honest, moments are what Family Guy is all about.

     The best of the night was probably American Dad.  It felt like a bizarre series finale for Stan (guess who?  McFarlane), though the rest of the cast didn't get the same payoff, and the series isn't ending.  This episode apparently takes place outside of the show continuity.  Stan and Francine (Wendy Schaal) had sex in a church on Christmas, and so are left behind as the rest of the congregation, including their children, are raptured into heaven.  Stan blames Francine for seducing him, and she leaves him and ends up as Jesus Christ's girlfriend.  Seven years later, as the end times come to an end, Jesus asks Stan to help him rescue Francine from the anti-Christ, and we see what is really in Stan's heart.  It was incredibly trippy, weird, and wonderful.  One of the best episodes of the series thus far, which is saying something, as Dad is probably consistently the best of the Sunday night lineup at present.